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Jim Blazier Sworn In as Wheeling Fire Chief

Jim Blazier is proudly pinned by his parents, Louanne and Bill Blazier of Wheeling, just before being sworn in as the City of Wheeling’s new fire chief during the city’s annual joint public safety recognition ceremony at WesBanco Arena Thursday afternoon. (Photos by Scott McCloskey)

WHEELING — As Wheeling’s police and fire departments honored heroic efforts by their staffs over the last two years, they also welcomed the latest leader of the city’s fire department.

To cap Thursday’s ceremony at WesBanco Arena, Jim Blazier was sworn in as Wheeling’s new fire chief. Blazier, who will officially assume the department’s top job Monday, was proudly pinned by his parents, Bill and Louanne Blazier of Wheeling, just before being sworn in.

An emotion-filled Blazier said it has been a life-long dream to be a firefighter and this was just another step along the path of his career. He was sworn in by City Clerk B.J. Delbert in front of a large crowd that congregated in the arena front lobby.

Blazier took time to recognize the long career of Wheeling Fire Chief Larry Helms during the ceremony along with a group of fellow firefighters who presented Helms with a special award for his years of dedication to the fire department. He said Helms has been a “great friend” and a tremendous help to his career over the years.

“It’s going to be bittersweet,” Blazier said. “I’m happy for him to retire but we’re going to miss him at the department.”

Helms retires as fire chief today, but he won’t be done working for the city. He will become the new building code official for Wheeling’s Building and Planning Department. Helms said he is pleased to be able to continue working for the Friendly City.

“It is with mixed emotions that I will be ending my 35-year career in the fire service, serving the citizens of Wheeling as Fire Chief for the last 15 years,” he said, “but I am very excited to be continuing my service to the public as the City of Wheeling’s code official.

“I will miss the firefighters, but will be developing new relationships with city staff and administration,” he added.

Both Blazier and Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger said it is extremely important to conduct the city’s annual joint public safety recognition ceremony, which was postponed last summer due to the pandemic. They said it is important to let the community know about the continued commitment and dedication of so many public safety officials in the community.

Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger presents medal of merit awards to Wheeling Police Officers, from left, Pfc. Dean Redinger, Pfc. Cody Schwertfeger, and Cpl. Jason Martin during the city’s annual joint public safety recognition ceremony at WesBanco Arena Thursday afternoon.

Schwertfeger said the ceremony is very important for a variety of reasons.

“The community needs to hear and know more about what the public safety officials in their community do,” he said. “Some of these stories are pretty horrific that are shared, but it is important that public safety officials are recognized. The police and fire departments are so well embraced by this community.”

Thirty-three public service officials in both departments were honored with special recognitions and commendations, including lifesaving, meritorious performance and exceptional duty categories.

For the Wheeling Police Department, Pfc. Michael Pasztor and Pfc. Scott Page were awarded for meritorious performance; Sgt. Doug Somerville, Cpl. Jason Chambers, Cpl. Erick Burke, Cpl. Jason Martin, Pfc. Robert Agostino, Pfc. Dean Redinger, Pfc. Cody Schwertfeger, Ptlm. Blake Paxton all earned a medal of merit; Cpl. Ben Young, Pfc. Cody Schwertfeger, Pfc. William Castilow and Pfc. Brandon Stanley all were awarded for lifesaving; and Pfc. Brandon Hoehn and Crime Analyst John Wroten earned the Chief’s Eagle Award.

For the Wheeling Fire Department, Capt. Steve Moore was lauded for meritorious conduct; Capt. Greg Funeri, Lt. Jay Anders, Lt. Eric Touvelle, Lt. Seth Mowder, Fire Engineer Nolan Brown, Fire Engineer Chris Kreitzer, Fire Engineer Chuck Ransom and Firefighter Tristan Pace were awarded for lifesaving; Blazier and Capt. Jason Milton earned commendation; and Asst. Chief Deric Jamison, Capt. Dave Harmon and Capt. Ed Geisel, Jr. were rewarded for exceptional duty.

The Wheeling Fire Department also named Lt. Josh Johns its 2019 Paramedic of the Year, Lt. Dennis Vankirk its 2020 Paramedic of the Year, Lt. Tom Haluscak its 2019 Firefighter of the Year, and Fire Engineer Clayton Dietrich its 2020 Firefighter of the Year.

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